Australia's human rights record "blemished" by migrant issue

Australia's human rights record has been "blemished" in recent years by the harsh treatment of migrants and asylum seekers, according to a UN independent expert.

Francois Crépeau, the UN's Special Rapporteur for the human rights of migrants warned that the rights of migrants have been eroded in contravention of international human rights and humanitarian norms.

About 12,000 refugees from Syria have been welcomed in Australia but the migration policies and laws adopted towards them, are still "regressive."